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Microstock is a term that has developed to describe a number of online image and video agencies that source images from a wide variety of contributors (crowdsourcing) and distribute them for a small price. While there are a fairly large number of such agencies, I limit my regular contributions to a small number of successful and reputable agencies. These are (links will open my portfolio on each site):

• Istockphoto
• Dreamstime
• Shutterstock
• Fotolia

Why Microstock?

I have been contributing images to a number of microstock agencies over the last 2.5 years.

Some photographers are critical of microstock on the basis of it driving down prices for photographers. While I can appreciate these arguments, it is important to understand that the market for images has changed fundamentally through advances in technology. This has significantly altered the balance both on the demand and supply side of the equation.

1. Supply – digital technology has made high quality camera equipment far more accessible than ever before. The biggest changes here are in the cost of consumables, which for photographers is now negligible and the availability of processing – digital processing is far more convenient for non-specialists than a traditional darkroom. The sum of this is that anyone with a digital camera is potentially now a photographer.
2. Demand – expansion of digital technology has also resulted in a much greater demand for images. A website that is devoid of graphical content will not stand out in today’s marketplace. Similarly advertising products without the use of images is almost unthinkable.

The result of these two changes makes micro-stock a viable and healthy market-place for images. It allows a whole range of businesses and individuals to access images at a realistic price, while providing for a convenient mechanism for photographers to earn supplementary income. While aspiring micro-stockers should be aware that this not an easy way to make huge profits, a portfolio of quality images will produce worthwhile returns over the medium term.

As a travel photographer, microstock provides for a modest, but regular income stream that doesn’t rely on my presence in any particular location or time. I can contribute work from anywhere that I can find a decent internet connection, and process images anywhere that I have electricity. On occasion I receive feedback that one of my images has been used by a community group, student or small business – such feedback is very welcome, and is actually one of the main reasons I will continue to contribute to microstock agencies: accessibility. For these groups, “macro” agencies which have licenses that cost hundreds or thousands of dollars simply aren’t an option.

Images are available for license.Thumbnails open to their photo page in a new window

Germany by Night

Japan at Dusk

Indonesian Dawn

Ruins in Jordan

Pyramids in Egypt

Taj Mahal

Great Wall

Great Heights

Great Outdoors